27 октября прошли очередные слушания in the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky - Lebedev: this time the court had to determine whether defendants deserve acquittal. We recall that on 25 October marked the 7 years since the arrest of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, a week ago, prosecutors asked for an increase in sentence for both business and 14 years.
The meeting was supposed to start in Khamovnichesky Moscow Court at 10 am local time. However, at this point in a tiny zalchike № 7 yet there was no one - including prosecutors themselves. But on the stairs and into the crowded waiting room of about 30 people (not as much as I expected). Among them were seen opposition Harry Kasparov, a member of the Office of the Russian democratic movement "Solidarity" Ilya Yashin, the literary critic Marietta Chudakova (and later came everyone's favorite Soviet-era film director Eldar Ryazanov). When the ladder appeared prosecutor Valery Lakhtin, Ilya Yashin said: «Shame!" (Prosecutor, as noted later, colleagues, missed the meeting because he drank tea in the press room). Another prosecutor - Attorney Gyulchehra Ibragimov looked proudly a photographer and theatrical exclaimed: "Oh, I beg you not to take photos!". When the convoy came with Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, sonorous voice rang out: "Its a-bo-dy! Free-bo-dy! "(Many were at the hearing on the case is not the first time and knew that the scream). As a result, the meeting began at poldvenadtsatogo. The hall seats were only 30-40 people (three rows of benches), men were vzhav limb. Before you get inside and find a place, it took me hard to deal with the bailiff, by persuasion and explanation, it is important to me to attend this meeting. Finally, I got - on the part where Michael Khodorkovsky has denied the charges against him - in his words, beat passes witnesses opponents. I must say that he held, as always, confident, and at times it seemed that this was not even hearing: Khodorkovsky allegedly gave a lecture on economics - to me, other colleagues, friends and ... prosecutors. The lecture was a computer presentation, which contained a lot of data on the production of Yukos and the oil industry as a whole. Understand the difficulties the investigation - Because handle such amount of information and compare all the figures appearing in, really hard for people not related to business. Therefore, apparently, in the process one of the prosecutors even suggested that the profit (!) One of the subsidiaries of Yukos was taken on credit (known to the company's profit not formed from the credit funds). With all this outward calm and jokes of the accused, which periodically causes a smile on their faces audience and lawyers, of course, it was clear that Khodorkovsky is worried - this was expressed in lung twitching of the head. So worried about the man who understands that how he will perform will determine whether they believe him, you'll see, finally, the truth. A person who, knowing that "the acquittal for the Moscow court - a rarity, yet does not lose hope. Platon Lebedev, meanwhile, nervously chewing gum and flipping through the Talmud with the case - It is his turn to speak was after. Khodorkovsky went through all the testimony, noting the absurdity of some of the charges (for example, the wording legislators that he was guilty of the derivation of profit from Yukos to (!) the subsequent growth of profits and market capitalization). Of particular controversy erupted on value allegedly abducted them of oil - its consequences are not offered a measure of the market, and the so-called actual price for which was adopted value oil in Rotterdam (!). Although about the absurdity of such calculations has said Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko and former Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref: oil in Rotterdam can not be equivalent to the Russian at least, because its value added logistics and export costs. Khodorkovsky has given an example with a bucket of well water, which we can buy from her grandmother for 20 rubles, and water Evian (She, incidentally, was on the table from participants process). Although the quality of this water is approximately the same, but the bucket Evian will cost 1000 rubles. And not 20. However, this fact does not mean that my grandmother because it must will sell its water for 1000 rubles. instead of 20. The second comparison concerned the referee Dining: Khodorkovsky said that actions similar to those that are imputed him in charge, commit, and now the judges themselves: they go into the dining room, where buy food, creating a profit this dining room (though not as possible ") and formed with the organized group (in this case, it is unlikely the judge will have an expensive restaurant across the road, he said). And it will not be regarded as a crime. He then wished everyone a good appetite. Thus, Mr. Khodorkovsky used the technique of comparisons, which is often used in American courts, which is known to act case law. Apparently hoping to still his work set a precedent.
In conclusion, the defendant pointed to one (and, in his opinion, the most important) of the charges, which stated that he ... wanted to make a political career. And then read a congratulation, dated April 15, 2003, from then-President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the anniversary of Yukos. It was alleged that Yukos - one of the best companies of the Russian market, contributed significantly to the economy. And despite the fact that later "discovered" that the Yukos theft occurred already since 1999 (ie six years to the time of Putin's congratulations). As the curtain Khodorkovsky thanked the public prosecutors, pointing particularly to the Attorney Ibragimov, who my charges as if trying to support the accused successfully sprawling charged her case. At that Ms. Ibragimova hastily exclaimed: "You're wrong!". В конце речи, когда Ходорковский выразил надежду на оправдание, в зале раздались шумные аплодисменты: аплодировал действительно весь зал. Кроме прокуроров Danilkin and judges, who fell on the wicked cry: "All those who applauded the court to withdraw from the room!". He literally ran over to the bailiff, who did not prevent the outrage. However, people immediately recognized that slammed everything - together. From the audience of course we went. But just because there was a break. In the toilet Court, I asked the young officer, where they celebrated the referees dining room. "And we have it for almost ten years as a no!". In general, almost as much as Khodorkovsky sits. "And where is the judge's lunch?" - I asked. "And who where have ...." Apparently, at an expensive restaurant across the road, too.
